Purpose
The Rebekah Knapp scholarship has been established to provide financial support for the necessary education expenses of a birth professional in initial or supplemental training. This purpose directly aligns with the association’s vision and mission by supporting and equipping the recipient for their chosen profession.
Promotion
The scholarship will be promoted through ACBP’s own means of communication (website, email, social media, announcements at the annual conference), which includes notification of various other, related organizations among its mailing list. Recipients of announcements will be encouraged to disseminate the announcement to their own constituents, broadening its intended reach to a significant audience.
Eligibility
These factors apply to eligibility:
- Timely completion of an application that includes but is not limited to:
- Demonstrated financial need, defined as household income of no more than two times the current US Federal Register HHS Poverty Guidelines for the applicant’s state of residence.[1]
- Demonstrated participation and good standing in an institution or program providing training directed at certification, licensing, or other recognized credential for one or more birth or related professions.
- This scholarship is administered without discrimination on the basis of age, race, culture, gender, disability, socioeconomic status, or other legally protected factors. ACBP does not require scholarship applicants to profess personal agreement with our vision, mission, values, or statement of faith; however, they are asked to acknowledge them and to agree to show the professional courtesy of demonstrating respect for them.
Amount
The amount of the scholarship will be determined on an annual basis based on available funds, the number of applicants, demonstrated need, and other current needs within the association. It may range from a small amount to a maximum annual award of $500, which may be shared among more than one recipient.
Selection
Scholarship recipient(s) will be selected by the current board ACBP board of directors, or by a selection team appointed by the board.
Deadlines
- During years when offered, the application will be published ideally during the spring of each year.
- The intended annual application deadline will be approximately three months after publication date. For the scholarship’s initial year of 2024, the deadline is August 9, 2024.
- The annual award(s) announcements will be made no later than during the dates of the ACBP annual conference.
- Disbursement will be made on an individual basis, based on dates within the recipient’s training program.
Performance
Recipients will be required to provide periodic documentation to the ACBP board that scholarship funds have been used for the stated intended purpose. If timely and acceptable documentation is not received or disbursement has not been made within one year of the award notification date due to circumstances beyond ACBP’s control, the award will be withdrawn.
Dispute
If a dispute arises under or related to this Agreement, all parties agree to first pursue mediation facilitated by a mutually acceptable individual. If a solution is not reached through mediation, the parties agree that either party may terminate the Agreement, which will satisfy all outstanding complaints and thereby waive any right to further legal action.
Tax Implications
ACBP assumes no responsibility for any tax implications for recipients of the Rebekah Knapp scholarship. Applicants are urged to consult their tax advisors.
[1] The 2023 guidelines are available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/01/19/2023-00885/annual-update-of-the-hhs-poverty-guidelines.
